BALCO Commemorates National Road Safety Month Within its Operations and Communities
17th February 2024
- Organizes a month-long campaign with a range of activities promoting road safety measures
Balconagar, February 17, 2024: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, commemorated the 35th anniversary of National Road Safety Month by organizing a month-long campaign around the theme ‘Be a Road Safety Hero’. The campaign aimed at promoting road safety measures among people in the plant operations and also within BALCO’s neighboring communities, thereby creating a safe environment for all road users. Observed between January 15 and February 14, the campaign witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 5000 individuals, who were encouraged through impactful awareness activities to embrace their roles as champions of road safety.
During the campaign, BALCO conducted an array of activities among its team members, their families, and business partners. These included quizzes, rallies, drawing and slogan competitions designed to build awareness around safe driving and road practices. The company also organized informative skits and emergency drills to communicate the importance of road safety measures. Innovative competitions, such as identifying the best parking and driving practices, were also conducted. Beyond its operations, the company also conducted insightful safety talks and quizzes in nearby schools, helping foster a culture of awareness and responsibility among students.
As part of the campaign, BALCO also organized eye check-ups and comprehensive health check-up camps for more than 400 drivers within its plant, who frequently operate heavy vehicles for transporting materials and finished goods. Additionally, surprise vehicle inspections were conducted across the plant premises to reinforce road safety practices. Efforts were also made to identify and rectify potential blind spots within the plant, further enhancing safety protocols.
BALCO also launched a dedicated helpline number in collaboration with BALCO Police, demonstrating its commitment to ensure seamless traffic management in its operational vicinity. This facility, supported by a team of 20 security personnel will quickly respond to any traffic-related concerns. Furthermore, the company established parking facilities capable of accommodating over 270 heavy vehicles transporting raw materials and finished products.
Speaking on the importance of road safety, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director, BALCO, said, “BALCO is deeply committed to fostering a culture of safety, both within our organization and beyond. Our month-long campaign on road safety aims at empowering road users with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills to navigate roads safely. Through continuous awareness and educational initiatives on safety, we strive to instill a culture of responsibility and respect among all, creating a safe environment within our plant and communities.”
Towards building a robust safety culture, the company has incorporated several cutting-edge technologies within its operations, including:
- T-Pulse Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) Monitoring System for ensuring the fulfilment of crucial safety protocols, through a network of AI-based cameras to track ongoing activity inside the plant in real time.
- Augmented and Virtual Reality Training Centre, Video Analytics, a Sustainability Mobile App, E-learning courses, and Digitalization of Workforce Connectivity to enhance leading indicators in safety practices.
- Centralized Security Operations Centre (CSOC) for leveraging digital intelligence and data insights towards better decision-making in security, traffic & road safety, and supply chain security functions.
- Real-time data monitoring, facilitating end-to-end digital dashboards, including projects like the Hot Spot Detection System which uses thermal inspection to ensure compliance to safety protocols.
- LED Logo projectors to illuminate safety signs on floors, ensuring clear and prominent display of safety messages even in low-light conditions, especially in areas with dust accumulation and high vehicular traffic.
- Integration of cutting-edge AI technology – Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) – in internal vehicular operations to elevate road safety amid the driving conditions within the plant.
The company also sensitizes employees, their families, and local communities around the year through several safety training workshops including defensive driving courses, fire safety sessions, and deploying retro-reflective signboards for reiterating safety protocols. In recognition of its safety-first commitment, BALCO has received several notable awards, including the National Safety Awards (Mines), a Platinum Award in the 5th CII National Safety Practices Competition, and the Global Road Safety Award.
About BALCO:
Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) is a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, operating a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium, i.e., 2.42 million tonnes in FY25. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. For more information, please log on to www.balcoindia.com
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Disclaimer:
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” – that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “should” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets including the London Metal Exchange, fluctuations in interest and or exchange rates and metal prices; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.
About Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil
& Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver,
Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa, Namibia, and
Australia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building.
Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong
focus on health, safety, and environment. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is
focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares, the
flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars have been set up as model anganwadis focused on
eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with
skill development. Vedanta and its group companies have been featured in Dow Jones
Sustainability Index 2020, and were conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020,
CII Environmental Best Practices Award 2020, CSR Health Impact Award 2020, CII National
Award 2020 for Excellence in Water Management, CII Digital Transformation Award 2020, ICSI
National Award 2020 for excellence in Corporate Governance, People First HR Excellence Award
2020, ‘Company with Great Managers 2020’ by People Business and certified as a Great Place
to Work 2021. Vedanta’s flagship Nand Ghar Project was identified as best CSR project by the
Government of Rajasthan. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the
National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com
